Lingerie buckle



J. sHAuLs'oN LINGERIE BUC-KLE Oct. 11, 1938.

Filed March 11, 1938 IN ENT'OR Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My present invention relates towearing apparel and has particular reference to anovel lingerie buckle designed for economical locking attachment.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a novel buckle construction particularly designed for womens apparel, and suitable .for either hand or machine locking, so as to be quickly locked in place for permitting sliding adjustment on shoulder bands, tapes and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a buckle construction which may be readily attached to tapes or the like without threading the tape through the buckle eyelets.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simplified buckle construction which eliminates the need forv sewing or otherwise securing the end of a tape thereto.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts as more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the relative positioning of the tape or the like and the improved buckle prior to assembling;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the buckle being completely assembled;

Fig. 3 is a detailed view showing a modified locking arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a View of the buckle similar to Fig 2,

the tape being removed to show the interlocking engagement of the central bar portions;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified construction of buckle; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing another modified locking arrangement. 7

It has been found desirable to provide a buckle construction for lingerie straps and tapes which does not require sewing of the tape and to the central buckle bar, and does not require threading of the tape through the buckle eyes. I have therefore devised a buckle construction which may be assembled by hand or machine, the buckle parts being so designed that the assembling operation locks the free end of the tape to the buckle central bar, and simultaneously threads the tape itself through the buckle eyes.

Referring to the drawing, the novel buckle I0 is of standard form, having sides H and ends l2, forming a buckle frame, the central bar being formed in two portions l3 and H, as indicated in Fig. 4, these portions interlocking when shifted from an upstanding position such as indicated in Fig. 1 to a position in the plane of the buckle as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, to interlock. Preferably, the barportion l3 has its end formed with a V-shaped point l5 and the bar portion H has its end formed with a complementary V-shaped recess l6 which is similar in shape to and cooperates with the conical point l5 to form a substantially continuous central buckle bar.

With the buckle in initial open position, as shown in Fig. 1, the lingerie strap or tape is folded as indicated and placed on the buckle ends l2 between the upstanding central bar portions l3 and M, the upstandingbar portions then being forced down into the plane of the buckle, as indicated in Fig. 2, this forcing down, which may, be either manually or automatically by machine catching the free end ll of the tape, as indicated at It, so as to lock the free end of the tape to the central bar of the buckle, the remaining portion IQ of the tape then being automatically threaded through the buckle eyes and 2| formed by the interlocking engagement of the central bar portions. If more secure locking is desired .par-. ticularly with larger sizes of lingerie straps or tapes, the free end I! may be forced over one or both of the upstanding central bar portions prior to assembling, as-indicated in Figs. 3, and 6,

whereby a positive locking of the free end I! to the central bar of the buckle results.

Instead of'utilizing interengaging conical and conically recessed ends for the central bar portions, the buckle may be formed as illustrated in Fig. 5, the upstanding portion 22 having a lateral recess 23 and the upstanding portion 24 having a corresponding lateral projection 25, whereby the forcing of the upstanding portions downwardly in the plane of the buckle 10a will interlock I the projection 25 in the recess 23, and grip the free end of the tape therebetween. Other equivalent arrangements of the buckle parts may be designed, the essential feature of the invention residing in the formation of the central bar portion in sections so as to lock the free end of'the lingerie strap or tape thereto during the setting of the portions together to form the central buckle bar, this formation of the central bar simultaneously and automatically resulting in the threaded positioning of the lingerie strap or tape through the formed buckle eyes. Preferably, the buckles are stamped out of sheet metaljsuch as v brass, but any metal or nonmetallic material may be used, having the necessary physical properties for retaining the final buckle formation after interlocking engagement of the two central bar portions. If desired, the two central bar portions need not interlock, as each portion may be provided with means for locking engagement to the tape end, such as for example prongs or the like I which may be clamped to the free tape end, these clamped portions then being positioned to cooperate together as a central bar for the buckle.

While I have described specific constructional embodiments of my invention it is obvious that changes in'the shape of the buckle, in the relative sizes of the parts, in the materials used for the buckle, and in the means for forming of central buckle bar and for locking the central buckle bar to the free tape end, may be made to suit the requirements for different buckle designs without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:--- i g 1. A combination buckle and tape construction comprising a frame having sides and edges and an open center, bar portions extending from 01)- posite sides towards eachother and forming a central combination buckle and tape bar element, said bar portions having interlocking sections and a tape gripped between the interlocking sections, whereby said tape is locked to said buckle.

2. A buckle construction comprising a frame having sides and edges and an open center, bar portions extending from opposite sides towards each other and forming a central buckle bar element, said bar portions having interlocking sections respectively comprising a V-shaped end and a V-shaped recess corresponding thereto and a tape gripped between the interlocking sections,

whereby said tape is locked to said buckle.

3. A buckle construction comprising a frame having sides and edges and an open center, and bar portions extending fron'ropposite sides towards each other and forming a central buckle bar element, said bar portions having interlocking sections respectively comprising a lateral recess and a lateral projection adapted to fit into said lateral recess when said bar portions are in the plane of the buckle.

4. A buckle construction comprising a'frame having sides and edges and an open center, and bar portions extending from opposite sides towards each other and interlocking to form a central buckle bar element, at least one'of said bar portions having a tape engaging prong whereby a tape may be pierced by said prong and gripped between said bar portions to be locked to said buckle.

5. A buckle construction comprising a frame having sides and edges and an open center, and bar portions extending from opposite sides towards each other with their side edges in align ment to form a central buckle bar element, said bar portions having interlocking sections respectively comprising a recess and a projection adapted to fit into said recess when said bar portions are in the plane of the buckle.

JOSEPH SHAULSON. 

